Surge to turn United’s season around

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith insists the club’s encouraging performances against Premier League heavyweights give them confidence heading into today’s clash.

Villa, who ended a three-match losing run in the competition by defeating Newcastle 2-0, have yet to claim a major scalp in 13 outings this season but Smith takes heart from their appetite for the challenge.

“We know that we can be competitive with the top teams in this league and we’ve shown that at Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham,” he said.

“We haven’t come away with the results that we would like, but we haven’t been very far away from getting them. It’s down to small details at times.

“The players are learning all the time and they’re getting to grips with each other. We had a big turn-around of players in the summer and that part of gelling with each other seems to be coming very close now. They’re starting to become more of the team unit that I expected of them, and that always takes time.”

United have struggled this season and sit only four points above Villa, but Smith insists Old Trafford still retains a fear factor.

“I went to the Manchester United v Liverpool game and they were certainly up for that and played extremely well on the day against Liverpool,” Smith said.

“You’re going to a stadium where there are going to be 76,000 fans, so there’s an intimidation factor there in itself.”

Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, has hailed Max Taylor as an “inspiration” after the teenager’s recovery from cancer.

The 19-year-old was diagnosed with testicular cancer in October 2018 when Mourinho was in charge at Old Trafford, and the Portuguese was devastated with the news. Following surgery and extensive chemotherapy, after the disease had spread to his lungs, Taylor has made it back and was an unused sub in United’s 2-1 Europa League defeat to Astana on Thursday night.

It was the defender’s first appearance in the senior squad and completes a remarkable story. Taylor has spoken of Mourinho’s support following the initial diagnosis and the Portuguese’s heart is warmed by the outcome.

“It was not me, it was everybody at the club, it was a big shock for us at the time,” Mourinho, now in charge at Tottenham, said.

“Very sweet kid, fantastic young professional and when we had the news, everybody was in shock, but I think the first one to motivate everyone at United was him.

“You know he won the biggest match of his career, so everybody is happy.”